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Torres feeling settled at Chelsea after difficult start

Fernando Torres has tailored his role to suit his team-mates © PA Photos

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Fernando Torres believes he has benefitted from what he describes as the "difficult situation" he has encountered since his £50 million move to Chelsea, and is enjoying the team spirit at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea signed Torres from Liverpool in January 2010 in the hope that he would become their new talismanic scoring machine, but his failings have forced him to adapt his talents for the benefit of Roberto Di Matteo's side.

"Football is a team sport and not an individual sport," Torres told Chelsea's official website. "We win as a team and every individual is better if we are part of the team. If we win trophies, we have the chance to win individual awards because it comes with the team targets.

"If Chelsea win the Champions League, everyone is a better, more recognised player, but if you win an individual award and nothing with your team, it means nothing. You have to win with the team, and for the team.

"In your life you go through a difficult situation or a very good situation and you have different moods, but you learn things from your experiences."

Torres went on to talk about his role as the senior Spaniard in a Chelsea dressing room that includes Juan Mata, Oriol Romeu and new boy Cesar Azpilicueta, who is getting help from his compatriots as he settles into life in England after his summer move from Marseille.

"It's not easy to come somewhere new and have to find your place," stated Torres. "You might feel someone doesn't like you or you might need to find new friends. It's not easy and I don't like this kind of thing. So you want to protect the players who are alone.

"I remember when I first came to Liverpool, Pepe Reina helped with everything and he made it easy for me. These are the basics in football, you need to create an atmosphere and try to create a group of friends. It's not easy and it doesn't always happen but you have to try.

"The Spanish players at Chelsea go out to dinner sometimes or meet up at each other's homes to watch TV shows we all follow. When you're in a new city, you try to be next to people you know and then after that you make your own friends."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.